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A Passive 3D Printed Tiny Home

Ukrainian engineer Max Gerbut has just unveiled the prototype of PassivDom, which is a passive tiny house with many intriguing features. PassiveDom was built using 3D printing technology, and according to Max, it is the first completely autonomous house in the world, since it does not require any fuel combustion of any sort, no matter where it is placed i.e. not even in an Arctic climate.

PassivDom measures 387 sq ft (36 sq m) and features a 3D printed carbon-reinforced fiberglass frame. It has vacuum panel insulation and, according to the designers, it meets the stringent Passivhaus or Passive House standard. This is quite a feat since the home features a lot of glazing. They achieved this by using windows that they developed themselves, and they claim these are “the warmest mass-produced windows in the world.”

The home is powered exclusively by solar energy, which feeds the heating and cooling system, the water generation system, and the air quality and oxygen control system, as well as all household appliances. This is achieved via rooftop mounted solar panels and a system of lithium phosphate batteries, which together produce and store enough energy for 2 weeks of autonomous running, even when there is no sunlight in that period. That’s quite a feat.

The interior layout is simple, but functional. The living space takes up most of the home, and is used as the bedroom at night. There is a small but functional kitchen, as well as a bathroom, which is separated off from the rest of the home.

They have already announced pricing. The complete, fully autonomous package, which includes the self-sufficient power system (solar panels, batteries, inverters), an independent water supply (water storage, a powerful purification system, and independent sewage) as well as all the appliances, furniture, and water tanks costs $63,718 (59,900 EUR) which is very low, given all the features of this home, as well as the cost of the components.